Tube cleaner



April '14; 1925. 1,533,872

F. W. LINAKER ET AL TUBE CLEANER Filed March 10, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. I.

INVENTORS z 1 "WITNESS: l7

April 14, 1925. 1.533.872

F. LINAKER ET AL TUBE CLEANER Ftl ed March 10, 1920 2 hee s-Sheet 2 fig. 2.

By Alia/ 1x (jug;

FatentedApr. 14, 1925.

FREDERICK \V. LINAKER, AND THEODORE M. BRUBAGK', DUBOI'S ZEENNSYLRTANIA.

TUBE. CLEANER-.-

1 c. all whom it may concern:

Be it known that We, FREDERICK W .Lla'n AKER and. THEODORE M. Reunion, the tor.- iner a subject of the King of Great B,lllifllll,.

5 and the latter a citizen of the United States of I\n ll'l(2l, both residing in Dubois, in the county of Clearlield and State of Pennr sylvania, have invented certain new and useful, IlllPl'OVQlllGDtS in Tube Cleaners,-, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in. tube cleaners and to combii'rat-ions of such cleaners with tube systems, more partieularly the tube system of a fire tube boiler, and aims .to provide improvements:

therein.

The present invention providesmeans for inducing or superinducing a strong draft or current through a tube or tubes, so that the draft or current induced through said tubes will carry with it deposited soot and other extraneous matter deposited. or lodged within said tubes. The means comprises jet nozzles introduced within the tubesgto which nozzles a fluid under iressjure, preferably 'steanu con? ducted through suitable. pipes; and the nozzles. direct. the pressure-jets; axially or allel. Wlhlli the axes of: the; tubes, as: to.

induce a strong" flow of, gases: within the tubes. i

'l. he invention, further provides parts and arrangements providing for the effective construction and functioning of. the invention, as will be hereinafter more "fully set forth.

An embodiment, of the. invention. is il-- lustrated in the aeconn'ianying drawings. ln said drawings, V

Figure 1 is a vertical, sectional view 01 the :front end; ofa return tube boiler, showing; the invention app ied to and combined with said boiler.

Q) oi? the tube system, preferablyto a limited extent. Wl'iere there are a plurality of these clen'ients 25. they are. prefe ably connected to one or more headers 5, and these headers may in turn be connected to a supply-pipe draft-inducing Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line accelerated or intensified flow of gas s 1 j Application fil'ed March. 10, 1920. Seria1'Nio...3B4;614.

or; pipes; T, T conducting compressed; fluid, preferably steam. from the boiler, to said headers, j

For convenience: in set-ting up, replacement, etc, the, portion of the supply pipe carrying the-headers is. made detachable, conveniently by a union: 9.. Furthermore forv convenience, in; gaining access to side vidualtubes of. the tube systen'nthe headers are d-etac-hablyconnected to the supply pipe or pipes 7, 7 by means oi" unions 11,, for: example.

.lheeleme.nt or elements. are provided with jet-forming devices or jet nozzles 15 adapted to project a jet oi compressed fluid (steann. for example) toward. the outlet end of the tube wl'iereby a draft or current 01 air, or combustion gases, may be. induced (or superinduced upon-the draft of the chimney) in such manner that the said draft or current of air orgases will blow or mrry along With it soot and other 6X'- traneons particles from Within the said tube. I j

The jet nozzles: 15 are expanding or ac celerating nozzles, being formed, clearly shown inFig. 3, with a: contracted inner end, and expandingythence to a-largerouterend so that. the-steam or: fluid under pres.

sure is held under; substantially supply pipe pressure until it, enters the nozzles and; accelerates in. passing through the nozzles, so as to attain a high velocity. The nozzles are directed with their axesparallel to the pipes 3 and tothe: boiler flues, so that. the jets issuing therefrom are. parallel to and as nearly as possible coincident with, the axes of; the lines, and are efl'ective; to induce a powerful flow of gases. through the tines. in the direction oli the jets The jet-nozzle 15 which is inserted with.- iiieach of. the fire tubes. is best located" toward. the outlet or exit end thereof, and is arranged to, discharge the jetot' stean'i orother com-pressed fluid towards such outlet end so that the jet shall induce an ing fire gases or anger a. mixture thereof) 1n the direction of the normal draft. It is ll ll characteristic that a jet of fluid under pres I sure is discharged in a direction parallel to the axis of the tube instead of angularly thereto; the eliect is to utilize the pressure; jet most elfectively to induce a strong flow of gases through the tube, as

contradistingu-ished ilrom the utilization of the jet toitself scour the innersurface of the tube. By reason of the location of the nozzle toward the outletend of .the,

tube. any scouring by the jet would beconlined to the portion between the nozzle and the outlet end, but since the effective action is that of the induced blast of gases through the tube, this action extends uniformly throughout the length of each tube.

It will be obvious that the elements may inserted from either end of the tube, but they are preferably inserted, as here shown, frou'i' the end of the tube which is at the exit of the draft or current of flue gases (viz, the ordinary draft), through said tube or tubes, and under such circumstances the element need extend but a short dis tance within the tube. Moreover, where the element is inserted from the exit end of the tube. the jct forming'means is arranged so as to project a baclnvardly directed jet, that is, a jet toward the end of the tube from which the element enters. The jet-forming means is conveniently formed by attaching a return bend 13 to the element 3, and providingsaid return bend with a suitable jet-forming nozzle 15.

The dimensions of the steam pipe, nozzle and return bend in a plane transverse to the boiler tube or-tlue are so small in pro portion to the tl'RIISYGI'SG area of the tube that their presence in the tube, does not materially obstruct the draft: hence they may be mounted peru'ianently in place without detriment.

For umvenience in installation, in a return tube boiler, the elements and headers are conveniently placed within the smoke box 1T, these smoke boxes usually being provided with hinged doors which can be opened to expose the entire tube sheet 19 of the boiler.

The supply of con'ipressed fluid to the. elements is governed by suitable valves 21., 21. in the pipes 7, T.

Inasmuch as the reaction from the backwardly-projected is considerable, the header, or other part to which the element is connected, is u'eferably provided with suitable spacing or supporting means 23, said means conveniently being, as here shown. a simple foot bearing on the tube sheet. against which the header bears when acted on by the reactive force of the jet.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the elements are divided into two groups, those of one group being fed by the pipe 7 under 'control. of valve 21, and those of the other group by pipe 7 As here shown. the former group of lements enters the lire tubes which appear at the right of the middle of the boiler: while the latter group are applied tothe lire tubes to the left thereof. This arrange ment enables the cleauingmeans to be up.

under control of valve erated either (1) by simultaneously opening both valves, so that-all the tire tubes are.blo.wn together, with the same effect as it all the drop pipes branched from one 'hcader controlled by one valve; or by cases, the best example, but the grouping may be otherwise arranged as may be de sired.

In operation, the admission of steam to the cleaning elements directs powerful jets thereof and blowing toward such ends, so as to induce through each lire tube a strong draft of fiOlIlblJStlOll gases or air, or a. mixture thereof, the effect of which is to dislodge and blow out any ashes. dust, soot, scale or clinkers that may be within the tubes. The operation n'iay be perfori'i'ied either with the tire door (or ash pit door) open or closed. In case all the cleaner nozzles are blown sinuiltaneously, it is preferable to have such door open, whereby to admit a copious rush of air through the tubes. \Vhile the cleaner is in operation a very violent induced draft created, and unless such door is open there may be insufficient air available to thoroughly clean the boiler. If, however, the cleaner is built in two or more groups or sections, as described with reference to Fig. 2, then the better way to clean the tubes is to blow each section separately. i kssuming the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. this results in a powerful induced blast in the tubes on one side of the boiler, 1n intensification ot the normal draft, while in the tubes on the other side of the boiler where the nozzles are not blowing,there may be set up a baclc suction which will exceed and overcome the normal draft. This will commonly occur if the fire or ash pit door is not opened. which is the best condition for so operating the apparatus when thus built in sections. After the nozzles in one group of tubes have been thus blown, the steam should be shut otf from such group and ad mittedto the nozzles of the other group so as to blow the tubes on the other side of the boiler. \Vhen thus operated, as either group of tubes is beii'ig blown, there is a forward blast (with the draft) in such tubes, and a backward suction (against the draft) in the other group of tubes, thereby oc'asioning a circulation in lateral direction. This circulation is alternated at each change from one group to the other; there resu in each tube a blast, first in one do ct ou and then in the opposite direction.

.whercby any adhering particles of soot or into the lire tubes toward the outlet ends scale are more efl'ectively dislodged. and expelled than if the flow were to occur in one direction only. In any case, however, if suflicient cleaning is not attained with the tire door and ash pit door-closed, these doors, or one of them, may be opened so as to admit an adequate inflow of fresh air.

The inventive ideas herein set forth may receive other embodiments than those herein specifically illustrated and described.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In, a boiler, the combination with a fire tube system of a cleaner comprising an expanding jet nozzle inserted pern'ianently within a tube and adapted under pressure to direct a jet of fluid at high velocity parallel with the aXis of the tube and in the direction of the normal draft to induce an intensified gaseous flow through the tube, and means for admitting and conducting such fluid to the nozzle.

2. The combination with a multiple lire tube boiler of cleaning means comprising expanding jet nozzles inserted permanently within the lire tubes and each adapted under pressure to direct a jet of fluid at high velocity parallel with the axis of the tube and in the direction of the normal draft to induce an intensified gaseous flow through the tube, and means for admitting and conducting such fluid to the respective nozzles. i i I 3. The combination with a tire tube boiler of a cleaner comprising a jet nozzle inserted. within a tube, toward the outlet end thereof, and means for admitting and conducting fluid under pressure to such nozzle, the nozzle having an expanding passage adapted to direct a jet of such fluid at high velocity parallel with the axis of the tube, and in the direction of the normal draft, whereby to induce a gaseous blast throughout the length of the tube, whereby to clean the entire length of the tube by means of such induced blast.

l. The combination with a multiple tire tube boiler, of cleaning means comprising jet nozzles mounted in the tubes thereof, near the outlet ends of such tubes, and directed toward such ends so as to project jets in the direction of the draft, such nozzles having an expanding passage adapted to direct such jets at high velocity parallel induce a with the axis of the tubes to gaseous flow or blast through the length of the tubes to clean the same, and nnans for admitting and conducting fluid under pressure to such nozzles.

The combination with a multiple lire tube boiler of cleaning means therefor comprising expanding jet nozzles located in such tubes near their outlet ends, adapted. to direct: jets parallel with the axes of the tubes toward such outlet ends, and means for admitting and conducting fluid under pressure to such nozzles, comprising pipes in the smoke box beyond such tubes, and branch pipes leading therefrom into the respective tubes and tern'iinating in reverse elbows communicating with the respective nozzles, such pipes, nozzles and elbows being of small cross-section relativelyto that of the tubes, so that they may be mounted permanently therein without obstructing the normal draft the-rethrough.

6. The combination of claim 5 with holding means for supporting said piping and bracing it against the reactive thrust of the jets from the nozzles.

T. The combination of claim 5 with holding means for supporting said piping and bracing it against the reactive thrust of the jets from the nozzles, such holding means comprising a part fastened to said pipes and bearing against the boiler tube sheet.

5. The combination with a lire tube boiler having two series or groups of lire tubes, of cleaning means for one such series or groups, comprising pipes permanently'located within the tubes thereof having, nozzles directingjets within the tubes parallel thereto, and in the direction of the normal. draft, and a valved conduit conducting fluid under pressure to such pipes and nozzles whereby when fluid under pressure is admitted thereto the jets from the nozzles induce an intensified gaseous flow through the tire tubes of said group in the direction of the normal draft, accompanied by a reverse flow of gases through the tubes outside such group.

9. The combination with a tire tube boiler having two series or groups of fire tubes, of two series or groups, of cleaning means comprising pipes permanently located within said tubes having nozzles directing jets within the tubes parallel thereto, and in the direction of the normal d aft, whereby to induce an intensified flow of gases through the tubes, and conduits conducting fluid under pressure to the respective groups of cleaning means, with valves for controlling the flow thereof to either group separately, whereby when fluid is admitted to one group ofcleaning means, the jets from the nozzles thereof induce a gaseous blast in corresponding direction tlnr-ough the tire tubes of such group, ilCCOl'llPtlHlGtl by a reverse flow of gases through the tubes of the other group, and when fluid is shut off therefrom and admitted to the other groupof cleaning means, the gaseous flow through the respective groups of the tubes is reversed.

In witness whereof. wehave hereunto signed our names.

FREDERICK ll. LINAKE-H. TI-IEODOHE Mi. BRUBACK. 

